At a wedding last year, my husband Sean was delivering the message, and he mentioned that to get to know us as a family, all you need to do is come for dinner. It’s around our table that you’ll hear all our stories, and our secrets! At that point in the service, several faces in the congregation turned to us and smiled knowingly.

It’s one of the things I love about our family. We can laugh at those little accidents and mistakes everyone experiences in everyday life. It means although some stories might have been difficult to live through with distance, we’re able to find the lighter side.

So with the help of my children and their permission, I’ve collated a whole list of favourite stories to share. Last year was a tough year and so rehearsing those moments of laughter is often what carries us through. I hope you enjoy reading about our adventures and mishaps. I’d love to hear yours!

I’m going to start with a story the kids love to retell about me! I don’t think of myself as clumsy, but the reality is, I probably am, just a little!

A couple of years ago, Bournemouth introduced electric scooters and so we took the kids down to the seafront and hire them. Leo was very cautious and so instead he took his hoverboard with the go-kart attachment. We hired three scooters and took it in turns to scoot up and down the prom. Everything was going fine, the sun was shining, kids were laughing and racing each.

Then, unfortunately, Leo’s hoverboard battery died before we wanted to finish with the scooters. It was heavy and so we couldn’t just carry it around for the next hour or so, which meant someone had to take it back to the car. Sean was happy to walk it back, but I was sure there was a quicker way.

I suggested we strap the go-kart attachment to the handlebars of one of the electric scooters and then carry the (very heavy) hover board under one arm while scooting back on one of the other scooters. Sean was not keen on the idea but I’m a trier and so wouldn’t give it up! I strapped the go-kart on to Tom’s scooter as he watched with a doubtful look.

Sean and Tom both said they thought it wouldn’t work, but I was adamant it would be fine. Saying my stubborn catchphrase “It’ll be fine!”. I put the hover board under my arm, kicked off on the scooter, and accelerated off.

I say accelerated off, but in reality I went about 5 meters before the hoverboard started to slip and I had to readjust it. It turns out you can’t use an electric scooter with one hand while adjusting a weighty item under the other arm! I wobbled and toppled!

The crash was loud enough to draw the attention of everyone on the prom, which was, as always, very busy. My family stood 5 meters behind me staring and, in Sean’s case, hiding a smile and shaking his head. I lay, starfish style, on the sand covered concrete, assessing my injuries (a very real concern in your forties)! Definite bruised knees and elbows, and more importantly bruised ego!

After the freeze frame moment, Sean came jogging over and helped me up. The kids followed, staring down at me with incredulity. To his credit, Sean didn’t laugh, or say I told you so, not then anyway! He checked I was ok, picked up the hoverboard, unstrapped the go-kart from the other scooter and walked back to the car, despite my insisting I would try again!

To this day, whenever the kids tell this story, I still think we could have found a way! I think this story illustrates well one of my biggest blind spots! I think with a bit of effort anything is possible, and I’m willing to give it a go anyway!